Champions, Family, Moving

We had breakfast with Sharaya and Ally this morning, then headed to the movie theater to see Champions. Have you seen it? Some of the language was a little crude but overall it was a great movie. A man who didn't know anything about people with special needs ends up coaching their Special Olympics basketball team. He learns a lot about what's really important in life. Thankfully I remembered to bring tissue!

 

 I got word on Thursday that I would be moving desks at work. I have been at my desk in the front office for more than 16 years. And within a week I will be in a quiet 'quad' (with three other admin) on the third floor. Honestly I'm extremely nervous. A person can create quite a routine and rhythm in 16 years. But as I've been processing it, I know I'm going to love it. I can choose my hours because I won't have to fill in for lunches for the other staff in the front office; I will be able to leave my desk whenever needed and don't have to make sure one of us is manning the office at all times; no more double doors opening and closing all day; phones won't be ringing off the hook... When I really think about it I get excited about it. There's going to be a lot of adjusting, but I know it's exactly what I need and I'm going to grow to absolutely love the quiet space!

 

 My view since 2007

 

 Adelaide is learning in leaps and bounds lately! She's a little over three months and is starting to 'talk' a lot! She babbles and coos, it's adorable. She's learned to grip things, she and Poppy are starting to make a connection, and today, she found her thumb!

 

 

Sharaya trimmed Ally's hair the other day. It had gotten pretty long so she cut it and then straightened it. I love this picture of her with Moxie.

 

 Well, it's time for bed. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

You've Heard of Five Golden Rings?

Beth first started with Special Olympics back in 1994. She was on a swim team and ended up getting bronze at the State games that year. She was only 9.

Since then she's been part of Special Olympics off and on over the years. She's done basketball, swimming, track...  

These are the medals she's won throughout the years. Three gold, four silver and four bronze.

That large medal was the very first one she got. She's holding it in the first picture and you can see it's as big as her hand. They were huge back then but have gotten smaller over the years as more and more athletes participate. But this year, the medal was bigger. Not as big as the first one, but a pretty good size.

Being a part of basketball, we knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with the fast pace of a regular game so she was on an adapted team. They dribbled the ball, shot baskets from various places on the court, it was more like testing their skills rather than playing an actual game.

 

She loved it! One of the tournaments was held in Leavenworth, it's a small Bavarian-type town up in the mountains near here. So we got a hotel and had such a great time seeing the area and watching all the athletes. I think they won gold that time. (At least I think so because her medal looks gold in the picture!) 😁

Beth's on the far right

We suggested track to her one year and she did the fast walk, the shot put and I think one other thing but I can't remember now.  She seemed to like it but didn't get a call the following year. Not that you have to be invited but she struggled a little with her weight, would get out of breath easily and just couldn't be very competitive. So we decided to not to push it.

Then came bowling. She absolutely loves to bowl! Please don't say anything to her but she's not very good at it. After more than 10 years of bowling every single week with All Aboard and on Saturdays during Special Olympics, she still only gets a 56 or a 72. Every once in a while she'll text us from the bowling alley, "I got 114 on my first game!" It's a huge deal when she breaks a hundred! But she likes being there with her friends and the sounds and just everything about being at the bowling alley.

This year she was asked to be on a doubles team. There really wasn't anything different as far as qualifying went. Her and E bowled their own games as usual every week, but at the tournament their scores were combined. That was the only difference.

  
When it was all over, they won silver! They give them their medals right there on the lanes and everyone cheers and claps! It can be kind of emotional!

So now make that 5 silver medals! 

King Pin

We usually get to the bowling alley early, to make sure we're able to get a seat near lane 13, where Beth bowls. She has her own ball and shoes and as soon as we get there she gets ready. Shoes on and ball on the rack.

Then she waits.

The bowling alley has to set up the teams and put everyone's names on the score board. So everyone waits.

 
Once they see the 'Practice' windows up on the monitors, everyone jumps up and begins to bowl. They know they have 10 minutes to warm up.

 
Then the real bowling begins. They keep score and everyone is at their top game! This week Beth started out slow and has the lowest score until frame 5. Then she got a strike and a couple spares and ended up somewhere in the middle of the team.

 
 Usually the kids have their bowling tournament the end of October and that's it. They all go home and it's over. But this year they said there are so many teams that the gold medalists this year, will get to go on to Nationals! Beth won a gold medal last year so here's hoping she does well again this year!

Our Weekend - Special Olympics Has Begun!

On Saturday we took Beth to her first Special Olympic bowling practice. Just like in years past, she didn't get to bowl on the first day because she had to leave for work. They're still getting organized and assigning all the bowlers to their lanes and it just takes longer than usual. She was a little disappointed but she understood.

 Today after lunch I took her grocery shopping. She was completely out of food! We know because she starts eating ours. 😏 We notice the granola bars have disappeared awfully fast and Chuck and I will just look at each other. While she was at work last night I went down to look at her fridge and it was completely empty! I so wish she would talk more.  

So tonight we went shopping. First we stopped at the gas station so I could get my car washed. Even in her 30's, the car wash still makes her nervous.

At the grocery store we usually go our separate ways then meet up at the register but this time she had limited funds (doesn't get paid until next week) so I walked with her to help her keep track of her money.

Now her kitchen is stocked and she's ready for the new week!

40 Teams - Lots of Noise and Fun and Smiles!

We got there early to make sure we all got seats, but when the coach got there we found out Beth was assigned to a lane a few lanes away from us. But we realized we were able to watch her ball hit the pins!

 Every time she got up to bowl she'd look over at us and smile and we'd all cheer and holler!

We left our seats when it was time for the medal ceremony.

 

"And the gold medal winner is..."

"Elizabeth Anderson!"

 

 We went to The Pancake House afterward to celebrate.

 She loves her hot tea!

 We missed Diana but other than that it was a perfect day!

"Let me win. But If I Cannot Win, Let Me Be Brave in the Attempt"

Beth took part in the Special Olympics bowling tournament last weekend. She looks forward to it every year. Generally the girls bowl in the morning and the guys bowl in the afternoon.

 

Every year it seems like there are a thousand people packed into that bowling alley!

 

 

And this was before the afternoon teams arrived!

We all got settled, the bowlers got their name tags and bowling assignments and all the computers lit up. (Thankfully the alley had put the names in ahead of time!) Of course, we got there early to be sure we'd get a seat. Beth was ready and waiting for everything to begin. 

Her team is the Mukilteo Pinbusters

We sang the National Anthem and said the Special Olympics creed.

 

Let the games begin! 

 

 During practice earlier in the year, they take the average of each bowler and then for the tournament, they place them with other bowlers in the district with similar scores. So you don't have someone who bowls an 80, competing with someone who bowls a 140. Each member of the team bowls about the same.

Checkin' her score

 

 Unfortunately Chuck had to work and Sharaya had another commitment so it was just me and Diana there cheering her on. (You can see Beth over Diana's left shoulder.)

 

We waited for everyone to finish bowling and then they had the award ceremonies. They have each team stand up and hand the medals out right there. There's no real fanfare. In fact, they didn't even use a microphone this year so I never actually heard them say her name.  

 "And the gold goes to... Elizabeth Anderson!!"

 

Yep, she won the gold this year! I think this is her first time! In years past she's won the bronze and silver, and one time got the 4th place ribbon, but this year... the gold!!

We're so proud of her! Way to go Beth!